Australian Minister for Trade Warren Truss announced Tuesday that Australia's total exports rose 17 percent in 2005-06 financial year (July 1 2005-June 30 2006) to a record 196 billion Australian dollars (149 billion U.S. dollars).

Truss released a report by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade named Composition of Trade, Australia 2005-06.

"Composition of Trade, Australia 2005-06 shows that resources continued to lead export growth," Truss said in a statement.

Coal exports rose 42 percent to 24.3 billion dollars (18.7 billion U.S. dollars), iron ore exports 57 percent to 12.8 billion dollars (9.9 billion U.S. dollars), alumina 20 percent to 5.3 billion dollars (4.1 billion U.S. dollars) and natural gas 38 percent to 4.4 billion dollars (3.4 billion U.S. dollars).

"Exports of manufactures also performed well in 2005-06, increasing 12 per cent to $39.6 billion (30.5 billion U.S. dollars) , while services exports rose six per cent to $41.9 billion (32.3 billion U.S. dollars)," he said.

Truss said trade in goods and services grew strongly in 2005-06, rising 14 percent to a record 407 billion dollars (313.4 billion U. S. dollars).

"Continuing domestic consumption growth resulted in imports of goods and services growing 11 per cent to 211 billion (162.5 billion U.S. dollars)," he said.

Japan remained Australia's largest merchandise export market, accounting for 20 percent of exports, followed by China and the Republic of Korea.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the growth, direction and commodity breakdown of Australia's merchandise exports and imports in recent years, and details of services trade over a five year period.

Source: Xinhua